Florida's win over LSU dropped a nuke on the top 3 spots in the rankings, but the bottom 4 remained exactly the same.
1. Florida Gators (5-1, 3-1 SEC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: vs #13 LSU Tigers (5-1) W 27-19
Next opponent: at Vanderbilt Commodores (3-3)
I was impressed with the Gators. LSU is a very good team and Florida was able to take care of business. The most impressive part of the win for Florida was that they did not give up a single sack against a very good LSU D-line. When making a power ranking, common opponents carry a lot of weight. For that reason, UF has jumped passed Miami into the #1 spot.
2. Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last week: vs Florida State Seminoles (3-3) W 28-27
Next opponent: at Virginia Cavaliers (3-2)
It wasn’t pretty, but Miami was able to pull of the win. While Florida did jump past Miami thanks to their win vs LSU, Miami was able to stay in front UCF. This was almost entirely due to their defensive performance. Miami’s defense, specifically their defensive line, is one of the best in the country. This was enough to keep Miami just ahead of UCF.
3. Central Florida Knights (5-0, 2-0 AAC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs SMU Mustangs (2-4) W 48-20
Next opponent: at Memphis Tigers (4-2)
UCF remains undefeated, but they fell to number 3 on these polls. As I have been saying, UCF needs a team in front of them to slip up if they are going to climb in these rankings.
4. South Florida Bulls (4-0, 1-0 AAC) (Last Week: 4)
Last week: at Massachusetts Minutemen (2-5) W 58-42
Next opponent: at Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-4)
USF is also still undefeated, but they still remain at number 4. USF is not going anywhere in these rankings unless someone in front of them loses, and giving up 42 points to Massachusetts is not going to help.
5. Florida State Seminoles (3-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at #16 Miami Hurricanes (5-1) L 28-27
Next Opponent: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3)
So close, but yet so far. FSU crumbled in the last 20 minutes of the game against Miami and blew not just a 20 point lead, but also a great chance to move up in the rankings. I was impressed by how FSU came out in the 1st half against Miami, so they are not going to drop. However, you cannot move up in the rankings after blowing a 20 point lead.
6. Florida International Panthers (3-2, 1-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: Bye Week
Next Opponent: at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-2)
FIU had a bye week. FSU did nothing to drop and FAU did nothing to move up, so they remain at #6.
7. Florida Atlantic Owls (3-3, 1-1 CUSA) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Old Dominion Monarchs (1-5) W 52-33
Next Opponent: Bye Week
FAU beat a 1 win team, congrats. However, they also gave up 33 points to Old Dominion. FAU did not do enough to move up in the rankings and, as I’ve been saying, it will be difficult to do so since they have no more Power 5 schools on their schedule.
1. Florida Gators (5-1, 3-1 SEC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: vs #13 LSU Tigers (5-1) W 27-19
Next opponent: at Vanderbilt Commodores (3-3)
I was impressed with the Gators. LSU is a very good team and Florida was able to take care of business. The most impressive part of the win for Florida was that they did not give up a single sack against a very good LSU D-line. When making a power ranking, common opponents carry a lot of weight. For that reason, UF has jumped passed Miami into the #1 spot.
2. Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last week: vs Florida State Seminoles (3-3) W 28-27
Next opponent: at Virginia Cavaliers (3-2)
It wasn’t pretty, but Miami was able to pull of the win. While Florida did jump past Miami thanks to their win vs LSU, Miami was able to stay in front UCF. This was almost entirely due to their defensive performance. Miami’s defense, specifically their defensive line, is one of the best in the country. This was enough to keep Miami just ahead of UCF.
3. Central Florida Knights (5-0, 2-0 AAC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs SMU Mustangs (2-4) W 48-20
Next opponent: at Memphis Tigers (4-2)
UCF remains undefeated, but they fell to number 3 on these polls. As I have been saying, UCF needs a team in front of them to slip up if they are going to climb in these rankings.
4. South Florida Bulls (4-0, 1-0 AAC) (Last Week: 4)
Last week: at Massachusetts Minutemen (2-5) W 58-42
Next opponent: at Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-4)
USF is also still undefeated, but they still remain at number 4. USF is not going anywhere in these rankings unless someone in front of them loses, and giving up 42 points to Massachusetts is not going to help.
5. Florida State Seminoles (3-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at #16 Miami Hurricanes (5-1) L 28-27
Next Opponent: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3)
So close, but yet so far. FSU crumbled in the last 20 minutes of the game against Miami and blew not just a 20 point lead, but also a great chance to move up in the rankings. I was impressed by how FSU came out in the 1st half against Miami, so they are not going to drop. However, you cannot move up in the rankings after blowing a 20 point lead.
6. Florida International Panthers (3-2, 1-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: Bye Week
Next Opponent: at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-2)
FIU had a bye week. FSU did nothing to drop and FAU did nothing to move up, so they remain at #6.
7. Florida Atlantic Owls (3-3, 1-1 CUSA) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Old Dominion Monarchs (1-5) W 52-33
Next Opponent: Bye Week
FAU beat a 1 win team, congrats. However, they also gave up 33 points to Old Dominion. FAU did not do enough to move up in the rankings and, as I’ve been saying, it will be difficult to do so since they have no more Power 5 schools on their schedule.
. Did the gators lose this year? Who did they lose to? I believe the jury is still out on them as well but you seem convinced that they are good.
